Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 109’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 109’, characterized by its compact and broadly upright plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; durable broad leaves; freely flowering habit; violet blue and purple-colored flowers positioned on strong and erect peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ANOUK DELUXE 109’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant,botanically known as Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to asLavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Anouk Deluxe 109’.

The new Lavender plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Nuis, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new strong Lavandula plants withattractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Lavandula stoechasidentified as code number L-507, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with Lavandula stoechas ‘Giant’, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor in 2009 as a single flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Nuis, TheNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands sinceSeptember, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandulaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Anouk Deluxe 109’ as a newand distinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Compact and broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   3. Durable broad leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Violet blue and purple-colored flowers positioned on strong        and erect peduncles.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ from plants of the female parentselection primarily in leaf size as plants of the new Lavandula havebroader leaves than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ from plants of the male parent,‘Giant’, primarily in terminal bract size as plants of the new Lavandulahave smaller terminal bracts than plants of ‘Giant’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandulastoechas ‘Anouk’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ from plantsof ‘Anouk’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact, bushier and        denser than plants of ‘Anouk’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have larger and stiffer leaves        than plants of ‘Anouk’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of theLavandula stoechas ‘Silver Anouk’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.20,068. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differfrom plants of ‘Silver Anouk’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact, bushier and        denser than plants of ‘Silver Anouk’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have larger and stiffer leaves        than plants of ‘Silver Anouk’.    -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Silver Anouk’ differ in leaf        color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Lavandula plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 109’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following detaileddescription were grown in 2.3-liter containers during the early summerin a glass-covered greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. Plantswere pinched two times and were ten months old when the photograph anddescription were taken. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 14° C. to 26° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 6° C. to 18° C. In the following description, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 109’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lavandula            stoechas identified as code number L-507, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Giant’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at            temperatures ranging from 14° C. to 26° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at            temperatures ranging from 14° C. to 26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to            four weeks at temperatures ranging from 14° C. to 26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four to            six weeks at temperatures ranging from 14° C. to 26° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and            broadly upright plant habit; freely branching habit, dense            and bushy appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit;            flowers arranged in verticillasters on crowded spikes with            showy terminal flower bracts.        -   Plant height.—About 21.5 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 24.2 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About 14.            Length, from stem to base of inflorescence: About 7.6 cm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Densely            tomentose. Color: Close to between 143C and 145B;            pubescence, close to 157C to 157D.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.            Length: About 5 cm. Width: About 1.15 cm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; very slightly            revolute. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely            pubescent. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic, pungent. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            138A to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to            between 137A and N137A; venation, close to 144B; pubescence,            close to 157C to 157D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 144B to 144C; pubescence,            close to 157C to 157D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single flowers            arranged in compact verticillasters on crowded spikes;            freely flowering, about 320 flowers developing per            inflorescence; flowers tubular with five lobes;            inflorescences with showy terminal bracts.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; continuous            from late spring into the late summer in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual inflorescences            last about ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Shape: Narrowly oblong. Color: Close to 145A; apex, close to            between N92A and 203A.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height: About 4.7 cm. Diameter, apex:            About 1.7 cm. Diameter, base: About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4 mm. Depth (height): About 8.5            mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a tube.            Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Roughly            spatulate; lower 75% fused into a tube. Apex: Rounded.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to N92A; tube, close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to N92C; tube, close to NN155D.        -   Terminal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About five            to seven positioned at inflorescence apex. Length: About            2 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Narrowly obovate. Apex:            Broadly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly            undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N77C and            79D; midvein, close to N187A.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each whorl of five            flowers is subtended by a single flower bract. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Broadly rhomboidal. Apex:            Aristate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Moderately tomentose. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to N77B; venation, close to N186A to N186B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a            campanulate tube. Length: About 5.5 mm. Width: About            0.75 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely tomentose. Color:            When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture: Densely            pubescent. Color: Close to 143C; distally, slightly tinged            with close to N77C; pubescence, close to 157D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.            Filament length: About 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Reniform.            Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 166B.            Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma            shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to N186A. Style            length: About 3.5 mm. Style color: Close to 155C. Ovary            color: Close to 143B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Lavandula.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lavandula have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lavandula    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate high    temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 7.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe109’ as illustrated and described.